A COMPARISON OF ECONOMIC IMPACTS ON CHIANG RAI AND NONG KHAI PROVINCES UNDER THE 5-YEAR PROVINCIAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (2023 - 2027)

Abstract

Abstract

This research aims to compare the economic impacts of Chiang Rai and Nong Khai provinces under the Five-Year Provincial Development Plans (2023–2027). The study employed a quantitative approach using secondary data from the project “Development of Smart Sister Cities Linked to Communities through Sustainable Contract Farming Cooperation towards an ASEAN Smart City Network.” The project provided estimated economic outcomes using the Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) framework. The data were refined and regrouped to align comparable development themes, enabling an analysis of the budget allocation impacts on the economies of both provinces.

The results revealed that Chiang Rai received a total budget 7.38 times higher than Nong Khai and generated greater economic impacts across all dimensions. Notably, the theme of Enhancing Human, Social, and Environmental Security created the largest overall economic impact, valued at 842,423 million baht. In contrast, Nong Khai’s most significant development area was Enhancing Trade, Investment, Border Trade, Tourism, and Service Competitiveness, with an overall impact of 67,818 million baht. In terms of cost-effectiveness, Chiang Rai demonstrated higher efficiency, where every 1 baht of expenditure generated 3.48 baht in output, 1.63 baht in value added, and 1.49 baht in household income. Nong Khai, by comparison, generated 3.06 baht in output, 1.37 baht in value added, and 1.27 baht in household income. For specific development areas, Chiang Rai’s investment in trade, investment, border trade, tourism, and service competitiveness produced the highest return, generating 3.76 baht per 1 baht of expenditure, whereas Nong Khai’s Enhancing Agricultural Product Standards and Value Addition yielded the highest return among its development areas, generating 3.21 baht per 1 baht of expenditure.